Vehicle-axle



PATENTED JAN. 19,1904. F. R. A. MAQKINNON.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 1a. 1903.

' no MODEL.

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q VUWI woes UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

FALKLAND R. A. MACKINNON, ,OF GRAND RAPIDS, VVISOONSIN.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,902, dated January19, 1904.

Application filed May 18, 1903. Serial No. 157,652. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FALKLAND R. A. MAcKIN- NON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Wood and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Axle, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to composite vehicleaxles.

The primary object is to provide a structure that will withstand greatstrain and at the same time employ a simple combination of parts whichcoact in a peculiar manner to obtain the said result. The parts,moreover, are rudimentary per 86, so that they may be manufactured andassembled at small cost, comparing very favorably with the ordinarytrussed axles so far as expense of manufacture is concerned and beingcapable of withstanding much greater weight and transverse strain.

The embodiment which at present is considered preferable is shown in theaccompanying drawings and described in the following specifiation.

An inspection of the claims hereto appended will show that the inventionis not limited to the specific construction herein set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of theimproved axle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the same.Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a similar view taken on the line 4: 4: of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of the core, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional viewshowing the arrangement of parts to permit the passage of the king-boltthrough the axle.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the embodimentillustrated the axle comprises a metallic core combinedwith wooden reinforcements. This core consists of alongitudinally-disposed plate 10, having upper and lower flanges 11 and12, extending from its edges and on opposite sides thereof. The

flange-pieces are riveted to the core, and for this purpose said core isprovided with projections 13, which are upset in longitudinallydisposedsockets 14, formed in the flangeplates. As a result an I-beam isobtained which is made up of metal sheets or plates. The upperflange-plate is preferably, though not necessarily, broader than thelower one, as shown in Fig. 3. The end of the core-plate is preferablyreduced, so that it will conform in longitudinal section to thelongitudinal section of the axle-spindle, the. upper flange-plateterminating at the reduced portion, while the lower plate 12 extends tothe end of the core and has its outer surface rounded, as illustrated inFigs. 4 and 5. A shank 15 is attached to the end of the core-plate,being bifurcated to embrace the same and fastened by rivets 16. Theouter end of the shank is threaded, as shown at 17, torecei ve askeinholding nut 18. The reinforcements are in the form of wooden stripsor bars '19, which are fitted against the opposite faces of thecore-plate 10 and between the flanges. The ends of these reinforcementsare reduced and convexed, so that the ends of the axle will be circularin cross-section. The elements of the axle are held together by theskein 20, fitted upon the reduced end of said axle and held in place bythe nut 18, screwed upon the shank. The exterior conformation of theskein is that ordinarily employed and is designed to receive the usualhub, which hub is held in place by a nut 21, screwed upon the reducedterminal 22 of the skein.

It will be apparent from the accompanying illustrations that thisstructure can be manufactured at small cost, and the parts are sorelated that the axle will withstand great strains. This is due to thefitting of the reinforcements between the flanges, for saidreinforcements not only prevent the core-plate buckling, but arethemselves reinforced by said flanges. Moreover. the parts are heldtogether entirely by the axle-skeins, and no transverse bolts need beemployed, so that the axle'need not be weakened by bolt-holes.

While the core and flanges have been shown as constructed in separatepieces, and this is considered preferable, partly for the reason thatthe metallic skeleton can thus be formed of sheet metal and partly forthe reason that a better fit can be obtained upon the woodenreinforcements, still the metallic member may be constructed in the formof an integral 1- beam, if desired.

In Fig. 6 is shown a slight modification of the structure, whichmodification is employed on the front axle. The change consists inbending or curving the flange 10, as shown at 10, to permit the passageof the king-bolt, (illustrated at 22 From the foregoing it is thoughtthat the construction, operation, and many advantages of theherein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout further description, and it will be understood that variouschanges in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with an I-beam, of reinforcementsfitted in the channels of the beam, the ends of said beam andreinforcements being rounded and tapered and an axle-skein surroundingthe rounded and tapered ends of the beam and reinforcements to securethesame together.

2. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with a metallic core comprising avertical longitudinally-disposed plate, and flanges riveted to the upperand lower edges thereof, of longitudinal reinforcing-bars fitted betweenthe flanges on opposite sides of the plate.

3. In a vehicle-axle, a metallic I-beam having hub-receiving terminalsand comprising a longitudinal plate provided with projections on itsedges, and angularly-disposed longitudinal flanges arranged on theopposite edges of said plate and having openings in which theprojections are riveted.

, 4. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with an I-beam having its upperend portion reduced, of reinforcements extending longitudinally betweenthe flanges and having their ends reduced and rounded, so that theterminals of the axle are substantially circular in cross-section, andan axle-skein fitted upon the reduced ends.

5. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with an I-beam core having itsupper end portion reduced, the upper flange of said beam terminating atthe reduced portion, of wooden reinforcing-bars fitted between theflanges and having reduced ends that extend to the reduced end of thecore, a shank riveted to the core and projecting beyond the end thereof,an axle-skein fitted upon the reduced ends, and a nut threaded on theshank and holding the axle-skein against displacement.

6. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with an I-beam core having one endportion reduced and constituting a portion of the axlespindle, the upperflange of said beam terminating at the reduced portion, ofreinforcingbars fitted between the flanges and having correspondingreduced ends which constitute the remaining portions of theaxle-spindle, and means for securing the bars and core together.

7 In a vehicle-axle, the combination with an I-beam having the upperportions of its ends cut away and the upper flange terminating at thecut-away portion, the lower flange extending substantially to the endsof the beam and having its terminal portions rounded, of reinforcementsfitted in the opposite channels of the beam and having the outer facesof their terminals convexed, and skeins fitted upon the ends of the beamand reinforcements.

8. In a vehicle-axle, the combination with a core comprising a verticallongitudinally-disposed plate, and separate flanges riveted to the upperand lower edges thereof, one of said flanges being ofless width butgreater in length than the other, and reinforcing-bars applied toopposite sides of the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FALKLAND R. A. MACKINNON.

Witnesses:

O. F. KELLoGG, I. E. PHILLEO.

